Neelde-controlling mechanism for knitting machines



Apr. 24, 1923.

M. C. MILLER NEEDLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 13 1919 Patented Apr. 241, 1923.

MAX 0. MILLER, OF CUMBERLAND HILL. RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JENCKES 5'. TING MACHINECOMPANY, OF PAWTUCKE'I, RHODE ISLAND, A. CORPO TION' OF RHODE ISLAND.

NEELDE-CONTROLLING. MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed March 13, 1919. Serial No. 282,409.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. MAX C. MILLER, a citizen of Germany, residing at Cumberland Hill, in the county of Cumberland and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Needle-Controlling Mechanism for Knitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to mechanism for controlling the operation of the needles of a knitting machine in the production of tuck stitches, or of fancy or open-work fabric, during any part or parts of the knit fabric.

The invention contemplates controlling the operation of the needlesv by needle advancing jacks, or other needle moving elements, which are normally inactive, and which may be rendered active by one or more series of deflectors arranged back of the jacks and successively operated to press the jacks into active relation to the jack actuator by means such, for instance, as a cam or cams which acts progressively along the deflectors by reason of the relative travel between the deflectors and cami By providing means for throwing the deflector actuating means into and out of action during the knitting, the character of the fabric may be varied at different points. By providing a plurality of series of deflectors for pressing forward different series of jacks distributed among the entire series, and also a corresponding series of deflector actuating cams, any series or combination of two or more series may be rendered active during any desired part or'parts of the knittmg, and a wide variation in the character of fabric produced may be secured if desired.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodied in a circular knitting machine. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on line 11, Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on line 2--2,Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view indicating the stitch cams and jack 0 erating cams; Fig. 4 is a detail elevation loo ing toward the right in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is-a detail sectional view showing a jack in engagement with the jack operating cam.

In the drawings the invention is shown as applied to a circular latch needle machine of the type used for knitting seamless hosiery. As shown, the needle cylinder 1 of the machine is provided at its lower end with a gear 2 through which rotary and reciprocatory mot-ion may be transmitted to the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with the usual vertical grooves in which the latch needles 3 are mounted. The cams for forming the knitting waves in the needles are indicated in Fig. 3. and comprise the rotary stitch cam 4, which is' active during both rotary and reci'procatory knitting, the heel stitch cam 5 which is active only during reciprocatory knitting, the needle raising side cams 6 and i", the upper center cam 8, and the lower center cam 9. After passing the stitch cams the needles are raised to the tuck level by the side cams, and are ndrmally supported at this level by the tuck ring 10 in which the side and lower center cams are formed or mounted. The machine may also be provided with the usual cams and pickers for actuating the needles to knit seamless hosiery.

In addition to the devices and mechanisms for actuating and controlling the needles to knit plain fabric, the machine is provided with needle cont-rolling mechanism which adapts it to knit various designs of'fancy or open-work fabric at any.. desired parts of the stocking, or to tuck upon any desired needles during any course or courses of the knitting. As shown, this mechanism includes a series of jacks 11 mounted in the needle grooves below the needles, and a jack actu ating cam 12 arranged to actuate any of the jacks which may be pressed outward into position to ride over the cam. The means for pressing forward the jacks comprises one or more series of jack deflectors, preferably in the form of radially sliding pins 13, which are arranged to act on the backs of the jacks, or on the backs of a series of jacks distributed among the entire series. In the construction shown there are seven series of pins. and they are mounted in seven series of pin-holes formed in the needle supporting cylinder, one above the other, as indicatedin Fig. 1. The pins are differentlydistributed in the different series of pin holes, and a separate actuator in the form of a cam 14 ispreferably provided for forcing forward each series of pins as they travel over the cam. Means is provided for throwing each cam.14= into or out of action, so that any series of pins, or any combinations of different series, may be actuated to press forward the corresponding jacks during the rotation of the needle cylinder. As shown, the cams 14. are formed on a series of levers 15 which are pivotally mounted, one above the other, in a supporting ring 16 arranged within the needle cylinder. The ring fits within the lower end of the needle cylinder and is supported and held in position by a series of screws 17, the inner ends of which are arranged to overlie a ledge.l8 on the cylinder. The cams are formed on the outer sides of the levers, and are arranged one above the other so that they act to force forward the deflecting pins at the same point with relation to the jack cam. The cam levers are provided on their rear side with a series of cam lugs 20 arranged to be engaged by a series of vertically sliding rods 21 which are guided in a fixed bracket 22 and rest on the horizontal arms of a series of bell crank levers 23. The vertical arms of the bell crank levers are engaged by a series of rods 24, which may be actuated manually or by any suitable pattern mechanism to automatically control the throwing in and out of the cam levers 15 during the knitting. The jacks normally lie within the grooves of the needle cylinder, so that their lower ends are out of active relation to the jack actuating cam, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1. The cams 14 are arranged to advance the pins 13 and force the lower ends of the corresponding jacks outward just before the jacks reach the jack actuating cam, as indicated in Fig. 2. The lower ends of thejacks which are thus forced outward ride up the cam 12, and are retained in engagement with the cam by a rib 25 on the inner edge of the cam, which is adapted to engage a notch in the lower end of each ack. After each jack has passed off of the upper end of the cam, it is pressed back into inactive position with in the groove of the needle cylinder by a cam 26 arranged beyond the upper endof the jack cam in position toengage the projecting lower end or butt of the jack.

Whenever the jacks are to be rendered active. the heel stitch cam 5 and that part of the lower center cam 9 which lies above the tuck level of the needle butts, are withdrawn from the path of the needle butts, so that the heel stitch cam 5 will no longer act to raise the needles from the tuck to the clear level. Vith the stitch cams thus adjusted, the only needle which will be raised to the clear level, so that they will knit-and cast off their loops in passing under the 'needles' corresponding to the active jacks,

and to tuck on the remaining needles. As I the needles raised by the active jacks pass under the stitch cam 4, the jacks will be depressed to their normal position, as indicated in Fig. 1, by the downward movement. of the needles, and will remain in this position until again pressed outward into active relation to the jack actuating cam. By properly distributing the pins in the different series, any desired effect may be secured in the knitted fabric.

While the invention has been shown and described as applied to a circular latch needle machine, in which the travel of the needles and jacks over the actuating cams is secured by rotation of the needle cylinder, it will be understood that the inventionis not confined in its application to such machine, and is applicable to other types of machines, such as dial or straight-bar machines. It will also be understood that the invention may be embodied in a construction in which the needle moving elements pressed forward into active relation to the actuating cam are not strictly speaking jacks, but are rather a permanently connected or integral part of the needle, such for instance as the part on which the projecting butt is formed, through which the needle may be moved in a manner similar to that given to it by a disconnected jack. It will also be understood that the invention may be utilized for raising-any selected needles at any point for purposes other than for tucking.

What is claimed is 1. A knitting machine having, in combination, a series of needles, a series of needle advancing jacks arranged to act. on needles distributed among the needle series, a corresponding series of deflectors arranged to act on the jacks, means for progressively actuating the series of deflectors and the series of jacks deflected thereby during the knitting of successive courses. I

2. A knitting machine having, in combination, a series of needles, a series of needle advancing jacks distributed among the needle series, a corresponding series of deflectors arranged to act on the jacks. means movable into and out of action during the knitting for progressively actuating the defiectors during the knitting of any number of courses, and means for progressively actuating the deflected acks during the knitting of such courses.

during the knitting of a course, and means for actuating the jacks deflected thereby during the knitting of such course.

4. A knitting machine having, in combination, a series of needles, a series of' needle advancing jacks, a plurality of series of deflectors for diflerent series of jacks distributed among the entire series of jacks, a deflector advancing cam for each series over which the deflectors of that series travel during the knitting of each course while the cam is active, and a jack cam over which the deflected jacks travel. 7

5. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a series of needles, a series of needle advancing jacks, a plurality of series of deflectors back of difl'erent-series of jacks distributed among the entire series otjacks, a deflector advancing cam for each scries, a jack cam for actuating the deflected jacks, and means for rendering any selected one or more of the deflector cams active during the knitting of a course.

6. A. knitting machine, having, in combination, a series of needles, a series of needle advancing jacks, a series of sliding pins mounted back of the jacks, a cam over which the pins travel, and a jack cam arranged to act on the jacks deflected by the advance of the pins.

'2'. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a series of needles, a series of needle advancing acks, several series of sliding pins mounted back of diflerent series of jacks distributed among the entire series, a

series of cams corresponding to the diflerentseries of pins arranged'to advance each series at the same point, and a jack cam arranged to be engaged by the jacks deflected by the advance of the pins.

8. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle support provided with needle grooves, needle moving elements in the grooves, a series of deflectors mounted in the support back of the elements, means for progressively actuating the deflectors to press the elements forward in their grooves, and a cam arranged to progressively actuate only those e ements which are pressed forward by the deflectors. i v

9. A knitting machine, having. in combination, a needle support provided with needle grooves. needle moving elements in the grooves, a plurality of series of deflectors mounted in the support back of diflerent series of elements distributed among the whole series, means for selectively actuating each series of deflcctom to press the corresponding elements forward in their grooves, and acam arranged to progressively ac-v tuate only those elements which are pressed forward by the deflectors.

10. A knitting machine,having, in combination, a needle cylinder provided with needle grooves. needle moving elements in the grooves, a series of radially sliding pinsv back of the elements. a cam arranged to act on the inner ends of the pins, and a cam outside the needle cylinder arranged to actuate the elements pressed forward by the pms.

11. A knitting machine having, in combination. a series of needles, a stitch cam, a series of normally inactive needle moving elements distributed among the needle series, deflectors arranged back of the elements, a cam arranged to act progressively along the deflectors by reason of the relative travel between the cams and the needles, elements and deflectors, a cam for actuating the deflected elements to clear the corresponding needles, and means for rendering the deflector cam active or inactive.

12. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle cylinder provided with needle grooves. needle moving elements in the grooves, a stitch cam, a side cam for raising the needles to the tuck level, normally inactive needle moving elements distributed among the needle grooves, a cam fixed with relation to the stitch cam for actuating the elements to clear the corresponding needles, a series of deflectors for deflecting the elements into the path of the cam, and a cam for actuating the deflectors.

13. A knitting machine having. in combination, a series of needles. a series of needle moving elements distributed among deflected elements and for returning the deflectors and elements to initial position during the knitting of a course.

MIA knitting machine having, in combination, a series of needles, a series of needle advancing jacks distributed among the needle series, a corresponding series of deflectors arranged to act on the jacks, means for progressively advancing the deflectors to deflect the jacks and for progressively advancing the deflected jacks and for returning the deflectors and jacks to initial position during the knitting of. a course.

15. A knitting machine having, in combination, a series of needles, a stitch cam, a clearing cam for cooperating therewith to form a knitting wave and movable into inactive position. a series of normally inactive needle moving elements distributed among the needle series, a series of deflectors is out of active position, and means for progressively actuating the elements deflected by the deflectors to clear the corresponding needles preparatory to their depression by .7 the stitch cam.

16. A knitting machine having, in combination, a nee le cylinder provided with needle grooves, needles mounted in the grooves, a stitch cam, a clearing cam for C0- operating therewith to form a knitting Wave and I'novable into inactive position, normall inactive jacks distributed among the need e grooves, a cam for actuating the jacks to advance the corresponding needles, a series of deflectors for deflecting the jacks into the path of the cam, and a cam movable into and out of active position for actuating the deflectors.

MAX C. MILLER. 

